We are currently recruiting developers to bring back the well known game; The Sims Online (also known as TSO).

TSO Restoration is a non-profit organization which is restoring and recreating The Sims Online (which was shut down in 2008).
TSO Restoration's website can be found at http://www.tsorestoration.com/forum/TSO Restoration's community currently has nearly 3,000 members with over
7,000 posts, and a development team consisting of 6 fully dedicated
developers.
We currently need programmers with experience in either C++ or C# (or both).
We also need talented reverse engineers/packet decryptors to help us
reverse engineer file formats and packets which the game uses.
Presently, we need help with the FTP/patch server (coded with C++ and
FTP), the update client (coded with C++, Win32 and various networking
APIs), the Isometric Engine (coded with C++ and OpenGL) and various
other things including format research and rendering.
People with knowledge of Win32 APIs such as WinSock and GDI will be especially important to the team.
Anyone who wishes to apply should either create an account at TSOR and submit a development application at http://www.tsorestoration.com/forum/ind ... -paradise/OR E-mail one of our most dedicated developers at codemonkeyjonathan@gmail.com .

I remember someone who have tried to reverse engineer the PlayStation2 Dvds in order for play them also with a PC. I don't remember how the fact finished. Maybe it was just a MassMedia Joke. I tried to search for it several times without success. Maybe you should try to contact EA

OpenGL is not hard. What you have to do is just explained in specifications. What is hard is dealing with poor OpenGL implementations.

Reverse engineering file formats is legal in probably the whole world. As I understood, it's not about reverse engineering code for later use in the new program. So there's absolutely no problem to expect here. Maybe we can leave the legal department now, and either concentrate on constructive suggestions, or do something else?

Many of us have tried playing similar online games, but it just isn't the same. There isn't a game which has the same "feel", or is as enjoyable as The Sims Online.

While some people think a new game similar to the sims online should just be created, previous players, such as myself and our developers, and the rest of our community disagree. We want the game back, not some knock-off. (=

You would copyright the idea of a Virtual Dollhouse not patent it. everyone mixes the
two up. And most things can be defeated if you can show that the person sueing you
wasn't the originator of the idea. Exanple: A movie that pre-dates the game that had
the same basic principles as a virtual dollhouse.

lorixann wrote:Many of us have tried playing similar online games, but it just isn't the same. There isn't a game which has the same "feel", or is as enjoyable as The Sims Online.

While some people think a new game similar to the sims online should just be created, previous players, such as myself and our developers, and the rest of our community disagree. We want the game back, not some knock-off. (=

You would do a lot better if you go for a fresh start. It can be the Sims online in all but namely. The name is the key here. Using intellectual property from someone like EA is akin to suicide for any small dev team.